Professional bicycle racing is a complete joke. A laugh riot. Doped up riders. Cancelled races. Bickering governing bodies. A lot of people are trying to right a sinking ship to no avail. Let's face it, it's not a dark, 'glass is half empty' attitude I have. It's realistic. Professional cycling, at least the version I fell in love with years ago and now distain, is dead. Sponsors talk of giving our sport a chance, that we're making inroads on stopping doping. They're just talking up their positions until their contracts run out... then they're out. Out for a very long time, if not forever. We should all realize that what we have now is a sponsor based enterprise that has passed viability. No doubt it will continue for several years to come. Unfortunately, those that continue to hold on to hope that cyling will survive will no doubt finally come to realize that the end is near. I give minor pro-tour races a couple more years. I give Paris-Roubaix another 9 or 10. Grand tours should last another 15 years. (Perhaps under different formats, regulations and governance). I really think the end is nearer than we think for professional cycling.

Amateur and local racing is still a beautiful thing to see and take part in. Pro cycling is done.

Sorry for the rant. But since this is my last post ever at Roadbikereview I figured I'd post something I feel stronly about. It's been fun. See ya'll on the road.

It has more than once reminded me of the disappearance of track cycling from the US scene in the 1930's. Rigged races, betting scandals, battles between promoters, all similar to what is going on now and that was all it took to go from riders out earning Babe Ruth to completely vanishing. Maybe some of the ASO and others are right and they should go back to national squads. Entertainment is a faddish and fickle enterprise but nationalism serves too many power mad nutjobs' interests too well to ever let it die.

Step away from the ledge. :)

Well heavy weight boxing has virtually gone the way of the dodo right?

. . .I really think the end is nearer than we think for professional cycling. . . . Pro cycling is done.

. . . But since this is my last post ever at Roadbikereview I figured I'd post something I feel stronly about. It's been fun. See ya'll on the road.
Yawn. Another prediction of doom. Join the crowd.

In the meantime, is a declaration that this is his last post binding?

Well heavy weight boxing has virtually gone the way of the dodo right?
Yes and no. It's no longer the cultural touchstone it once was, just like cycling, but it has retained its niche in the oversaturated sports market, just like cycling has fr quite some time now. Neither will completely go extinct anytime in the future.

Sorry for the rant. But since this is my last post ever at Roadbikereview I figured I'd post something I feel stronly about. It's been fun. See ya'll on the road.
Bye.:thumbsup:

Well heavy weight boxing has virtually gone the way of the dodo right?

ProGolf too?

Step away from the ledge. :)




No no.......let him stay as close as he wants.


Look, I love the sport too. And if this is what there is to watch, guess what, I"ll be all over it. It's still a great sport. Doping or not, these guys are still superhuman cyclist, at least to me. If the average cyclist tried doping he still wouldn't be close to one of the pros.

Sorry for the rant. But since this is my last post ever at Roadbikereview I figured I'd post something I feel stronly about. It's been fun. See ya'll on the road.

Since you're leaving us, may I use your cool kitty avatar?

Doping or not, these guys are still superhuman cyclist, at least to me. If the average cyclist tried doping he still wouldn't be close to one of the pros.
EXACTLY....honestly, why does everyone talk about the morality of the sport, the purity etc? In a perfect world, yes, it would be great if it were pure...but then one could also start carping about the best funded teams vs. those that only have 3 million/annual, facilities, coaching, nutritionists etc.

The public loves human drama. As long as there is professional sport, there will always be someone pushing the limit. It happens in every single, solitary one. F1 and McLaren just proved that. Pro football, soccer, baseball all have their issues. This is nothing different. Why is everyone so sanctimonious? What do they expect? These guys race for 2100 MILES....:eek:

Carry on........

Since you're leaving us, may I use your cool kitty avatar?

Retro, you've got the best avatar on RBR. Please don't change it.

To everybody else, pro cycling survived two world wars, I think it will survive a few test tubes.